Hello, this is my first time posting here and also my first time dealing with a sick axolotl. I have had my axolotls for about 4-5 years now. About a month ago one of my axolotls stopped eating and sadly passed away last week. I have another axolotl in the same 55 gallon tank and he is extremely swollen. His chin, face body and legs are all swollen. His eyes look sunken in from how swollen his face is. He has not eaten or gone to the bathroom even once in the last two weeks. I have been keeping him in the fridge but nothing has changed in two weeks. I am starting to worry that he might die on me if I can not figure out why he is so swollen, not eating and not pooping. He also has these pin prick sized red dots on his body that I just noticed a few days ago. He is only about 3-4 years old himself. He was at least 2 years younger than the one who passed away. I think she was 5-6. Still very young.
The Nitrates have been high for the past few weeks and water changes have not helped bring them down at all. Last I checked which was 2 days ago they were in the 80s. Ammonia, Nitrites and Chlorine were all 0 and P.H was 7.8. Our water hardness is 300 but it has always been that high, its due to how hard the tap water in my city is. I figure the Nitrates have a part to play in all this.
My axolotls are kept on no substrate as of a few months ago. That is the first time since I got them 4-5 years ago that they have had no substrate, could that be a factor? The substrate was large river ricks that were much larger than their heads so he is not impacted by a rock. They eat mostly earthworms but i will give them small fish as a treat every once in a while. They will get minnows, goldfish, guppies or whatever other small feeder fish I can find that does not look sick. Could a sick fish cause such a problem?
I have no idea what is going on or what I can do. And the worst part is I can not find a single vet. Please help!
p.s I have realized I might have to euthanize him. I am just trying to find out if there is anything I can personally do to help him before taking such drastic measures. Thanks everyone
I included some photos and a photo of him when I first got him
The Nitrates have been high for the past few weeks and water changes have not helped bring them down at all. Last I checked which was 2 days ago they were in the 80s. Ammonia, Nitrites and Chlorine were all 0 and P.H was 7.8. Our water hardness is 300 but it has always been that high, its due to how hard the tap water in my city is. I figure the Nitrates have a part to play in all this.
My axolotls are kept on no substrate as of a few months ago. That is the first time since I got them 4-5 years ago that they have had no substrate, could that be a factor? The substrate was large river ricks that were much larger than their heads so he is not impacted by a rock. They eat mostly earthworms but i will give them small fish as a treat every once in a while. They will get minnows, goldfish, guppies or whatever other small feeder fish I can find that does not look sick. Could a sick fish cause such a problem?
I have no idea what is going on or what I can do. And the worst part is I can not find a single vet. Please help!
p.s I have realized I might have to euthanize him. I am just trying to find out if there is anything I can personally do to help him before taking such drastic measures. Thanks everyone
I included some photos and a photo of him when I first got him
